Olympic Triathlon Training Program - Novice

The following is an example of an Olympic Triathlon Training program (phase 3) for a novice athlete. Prior to starting any training, it is recommended you have a medical examination to ensure it is safe for you to do so.

Any application of this training program is at the athlete's own discretion and risk.

Key to notations and terms used

m = metres k = kilometres hrs = hours min = minutes secs = seconds Rep = repetition
pb = "personal best" time for Triathlon 5 × 200m = 5 repetitions of 200 metres
tpb = "target personal best" time for Triathlon

Phase 3

Each training session should include an appropriate warm up before the session and cool down after the session.

Week 1

Day Develop Session Effort Recovery
Rep Set
Monday Specific Strength
Weight Training      
Tuesday Specific Endurance
& Transition		 Swim 200m + 200m transition + Bike 5 min tpb    
Wednesday Specific Strength Weight Training      
Thursday Specific Endurance
& Transition		 Bike 15 min + 100m transition + Run 1 km tpb    
Friday Specific Strength Weight Training      
Saturday Specific Endurance
& Transition		 Bike 1 min + Run 1 min
Bike 2 min + Run 2 min
Bike 3 min + Run 3 min
Bike 2 min + Run 2 min
Bike 1 min + Run 1 min		 tpb   8 min
Sunday Rest        

Week 2

Day Develop Session Effort Recovery
Rep Set
Monday Specific Strength
Weight Training      
Tuesday Specific Endurance
& Transition		 Swim 300m + 400m transition + Bike 5 min tpb    
Wednesday Specific Strength Weight Training      
Thursday Specific Endurance
& Transition		 Bike 15 min + 100m transition + Run 3 km tpb    
Friday Specific Strength Weight Training      
Saturday Specific Endurance
& Transition		 Bike 2 min + Run 2 min
Bike 2 min + Run 2 min
Bike 3 min + Run 3 min
Bike 2 min + Run 2 min
Bike 2 min + Run 2 min		 tpb   8 min
Sunday Rest        

Week 3

Day Develop Session Effort Recovery
Rep Set
Monday Specific Strength
Weight Training      
Tuesday Specific Endurance
& Transition		 Swim 400m + 800m transition + Bike 5 min tpb    
Wednesday Specific Strength Weight Training      
Thursday Specific Endurance
& Transition		 Bike 15 min + 100m transition + Run 2 km tpb    
Friday Specific Strength Weight Training      
Saturday Specific Endurance
& Transition		 5 x (Bike 3 min + Run 3 min) tpb   8 min
Sunday Rest        

Week 4

Day Develop Session Effort Recovery
Rep Set
Monday Endurance General Swim - 30 min Fartlek      
Tuesday Strength Specific
& Endurance General 		Weight Training
Bike - 2 hrs Fartlek		      
Wednesday Endurance General Run - 40 min Fartlek      
Thursday Strength Specific
& Endurance General 		Weight Training
Bike - 2 hrs Fartlek		      
Friday Endurance General Swim - 30 min Fartlek      
Saturday Rest        
Sunday Rest        

Minor Race

In the event of a minor race in this period then for the week of the race the training will be as follows:

Race on Sunday Race on Saturday
Monday Training as normal Training as normal
Tuesday Swim - 30 min Fartlek Swim - 30 min Fartlek
Wednesday Training as normal Training as normal
Thursday Swim - 30 min Fartlek Swim - 30 min Fartlek
Friday Run - 8 x 400m @ tpb-5% with full recovery Rest
Saturday Rest Race
Sunday Race Bike - 2 hrs Fartlek

Major Race

In the event of a major race in this period then for the week of the race the training will be as follows:

Race on Sunday Race on Saturday
Monday Bike - 2 hrs Fartlek Bike - 2 hrs Fartlek
Tuesday Swim - 2 x (200m @ tpb-5% + 200m @ tpb) with full recovery Swim - 2 x (200m @ tpb-5% + 200m @ tpb) with full recovery
Wednesday Run - 8 x 400m @ tpb-5% with full recovery Run - 8 x 400m @ tpb-5% with full recovery
Thursday Bike - 2 hours easy Swim - 30 min easy
Friday Swim - 2 x (200m @ tpb-5% + 200m @ tpb) with full recovery Rest
Saturday Rest Race
Sunday Race Bike - 2 hrs Fartlek

Swim faster and easier than ever before

Discover the secrets to improving your swim technique, avoiding painful injuries, and shaving minutes off your best triathlon times to date. Select this link or image for more information.

Swim Faster and Easier Than Ever Before

Training for Triathlon

Training for Triathlon

Training for Triathlon reveals the very latest triathlon-specific training research, competition tactics and performance-boosting secrets - and spells out exactly how you can apply these race-winners today.

Throughout this brand new special report, we dissect the major current debates over the best methods of training for triathlon, we disclose the pre-event preparation of the world's best triathletes, and we share the strategy and tactics that are guaranteed to deliver on the big day.

Select this link for more information on "Training for Triathlon".

Associated Pages

The following Sports Coach pages should be read in conjunction with this page:

Associated Books

The following books provide more information related to this topic:

  • Advanced Studies in Physical Education and Sport, P Beashel et al., ISBN 0 17 4482345
  • Physical Education and the Study of Sport, B. Davis et al., ISBN 0 7234 31752
  • Essentials of Exercise Physiology, W.D. McArdle et al., ISBN 0 683 30507 7
  • Physical Education and Sport Studies, D. Roscoe et al., ISBN 1 901424 20 0
  • The World of Sport Examined, P. Beashel et al., ISBN 0 17 438719 9
  • Advanced PE for Edexcel, F. Galligan et al., ISBN 0 435 50643 9
  • Examining Physical Education, K. Bizley, ISBN 0 435 50660 9
  • Sport and PE, K Wesson et al., ISBN 0 340 683821
  • PE for you, J. Honeybourne, ISBN 0 7487 3277 2